Golden Rockets centre Dallas Flockhart was destined to be a hockey player, ever since his NHLer father put him in skates at age three.
“As far as hockey players, I mostly looked up to my dad when I was younger,” said Flockhart.
“He played in the NHL for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Boston, and Montreal. He played for nine years. So I really looked up to him. He taught me how to play, and he taught me how to skate so it was pretty great.”
Growing up in Salmon Arm, Flockhart had another mentor in the hockey world, his father’s friend and Golden Rockets Head Coach Ty Davidson.
“I’ve known him for a long time, since I was a kid. Him and my Dad are pretty close, and he’s always helped me out with hockey. So I’ve known him a long time,” said Flockhart.
It was Davidson who invited him to come try out this summer, putting the 18-year-old in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League for his first season.
“This is my first year in the league. It’s a great place to play, and the community really supports us, so it’s nice,” he said.
The Rookie has tallied 19 points in his 38 games so far this season, with six goals and 13 assists.
“I like to think of myself as a playmaker,” said Flockhart of the kind of player he tries to be out on the ice. “But I don’t know. I like to grind to, so a bit of both. He’s (Davidson) really trying to get me to shoot more because I’m more of a pass first kind of player.”
Flockhart has two more years of eligibility in the KIJHL, but the future is unknown for the young player.
“Next year, if I don’t make junior A somewhere, I think I’d like to come back here, and probably college in the States eventually,” he said. “I’m not sure yet what I’d want to take. Something outdoorsy maybe, I really like camping and that sort of stuff.”
The playoffs are just around the corner for the Golden Rockets, and the rookie is looking forward to a high-pressure series of hockey.
“I’ve never really had a seven-game playoff series before, so it should be a really good experience. I’m pretty excited.”
